Law enforcement authorities in the Sirmaur district headquarters of Himachal Pradesh have taken a firm stance following recent unrest, placing a dozen individuals behind bars from both sides of the dispute. In a bid to maintain public order and prevent further escalations, local administrative officials clamped regulatory curbs under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which took effect on the evening of 26 October and remain operational through 29 October. Alongside tight police measures, community leaders from neighbouring Punjab have stepped in to broker peace and restore mutual trust.
Detentions and Ongoing Interrogations
Sirmaur Superintendent of Police Nishchint Singh Negi confirmed that 12 individuals linked to the violent confrontation were apprehended late at night. The senior officer indicated that investigators are examining technical and physical evidence, meaning further detentions cannot be ruled out as the probe progresses. Ahead of these arrests, personnel from the Nahan Sadar police station had summoned 10 to 12 people from opposing groups for questioning on the evening of 27 October. Officials stated that subsequent judicial steps will proceed based on findings gathered during interrogation.
Renovation Dispute Sparked Stone-Pelting
The disturbance originated from a disagreement surrounding the refurbishment of Valmiki Gate, which pitted two local neighbourhoods against one another. On 23 October, precisely two days before Valmiki Jayanti celebrations, the friction escalated into an aggressive showdown marked by stone-pelting from opposing factions.
During the chaos, rioters torched a local scrap establishment and smashed the official vehicle assigned to the Tehsildar. Around 14 individuals, among them the local Station House Officer (SHO), sustained injuries amid the confrontation. While tight arrangements ensured that the Valmiki Jayanti procession passed off peacefully on 26 October, preventive restrictions under Section 163 were subsequently enforced to curb fresh flare-ups after outsiders from Punjab announced plans to visit the town.
Peace Delegations Step In as Security Tightens
To de-escalate tension, representative figures from Punjab arrived in Nahan on Tuesday to consult with residents and town elders. Jathedar Avtar Singh representing the Punjab Budha Dal and Valmiki Tirath Amritsar general secretary Billu Valmiki briefed the press, urging everyone involved to display restraint.
"Both sides ought to sit together and find an amicable solution to the issue."
Both delegates underscored the need to resolve neighbourhood disputes through peaceful dialogue rather than street conflict. Concurrently, district authorities have fortified town entry routes, subjecting every vehicle entering Nahan on Tuesday to rigorous inspections while posting heavy police deployments at vulnerable intersections.
